James Harden vs. Cedric Maxwell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Cedric Maxwell and James Harden, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

James Harden played 15 years in the NBA, 4 more than Cedric Maxwell, who played 11. James Harden had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, while Cedric Maxwell had his rookie season in 1977-78. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
James Harden 15 15 2009-10 to 2023-24
Cedric Maxwell 11 8 1977-78 to 1987-88

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2009-101977-78
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 76 22.9 9.9 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.8 1.1 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.1 7.6 .403 1.2 3.3 .375 2.6 3.2 .808
Cedric Maxwell 72 16.8 7.3 1.9 3.3 5.3 0.9 0.7 0.7 1.7 2.1 2.4 4.4 .538 - - - 2.6 3.5 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 20.0 7.7 0.2 2.3 2.5 1.8 1.0 0.2 0.5 2.3 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.7 .375 2.7 3.2 .842
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2010-111978-79
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 82 26.7 12.2 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.1 1.1 0.3 1.3 2.5 3.6 8.3 .436 1.4 4.0 .349 3.5 4.2 .843
Cedric Maxwell 80 37.1 19.0 3.4 6.5 9.9 2.9 1.2 0.9 3.4 3.3 5.9 10.1 .584 - - - 7.2 9.0 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 31.6 13.0 0.6 4.8 5.4 3.6 1.2 0.8 1.6 2.8 3.9 8.2 .475 1.4 4.5 .303 3.9 4.7 .825
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 3

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2011-121979-80
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 62 31.4 16.8 0.5 3.6 4.1 3.7 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.0 10.1 .491 1.8 4.7 .390 5.0 6.0 .846
Cedric Maxwell 80 34.3 16.9 3.6 5.3 8.8 2.5 1.0 0.8 2.9 3.3 5.7 9.4 .609 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 6.9 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 20 31.5 16.3 0.7 4.5 5.1 3.4 1.6 0.1 2.1 3.4 4.7 10.7 .435 1.6 3.9 .410 5.4 6.3 .857
Cedric Maxwell 9 35.6 18.2 3.4 6.6 10.0 2.1 0.6 1.1 2.4 2.8 6.6 10.3 .634 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 6.8 .754

Season 4

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2012-131980-81
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 78 38.3 25.9 0.8 4.1 4.9 5.8 1.8 0.5 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.1 .438 2.3 6.2 .368 8.6 10.2 .851
Cedric Maxwell 81 33.7 15.2 2.7 3.7 6.5 2.7 1.0 0.8 2.2 3.2 5.4 9.3 .588 0.0 0.0 .000 4.3 5.6 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 40.5 26.3 0.8 5.8 6.7 4.5 2.0 1.0 4.5 3.0 7.5 19.2 .391 2.5 7.3 .341 8.8 11.0 .803
Cedric Maxwell 17 35.2 16.1 3.6 3.8 7.4 2.7 0.7 0.9 2.5 3.1 5.9 10.2 .580 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 5.2 .818

Season 5

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2013-141981-82
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 73 38.0 25.4 0.8 3.9 4.7 6.1 1.6 0.4 3.6 2.4 7.5 16.5 .456 2.4 6.6 .366 7.9 9.1 .866
Cedric Maxwell 78 33.2 14.8 2.8 3.6 6.4 2.3 1.0 0.6 2.2 3.4 5.1 9.3 .548 0.0 0.0 .000 4.6 6.1 .747
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 43.8 26.8 0.8 3.8 4.7 5.8 2.0 0.2 3.5 3.5 8.3 22.2 .376 2.7 9.0 .296 7.5 8.3 .900
Cedric Maxwell 12 32.1 14.5 3.1 4.2 7.3 2.2 1.5 0.9 2.0 3.3 5.2 10.0 .517 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 5.8 .714

Season 6

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2014-151982-83
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 81 36.8 27.4 0.9 4.7 5.7 7.0 1.9 0.7 4.0 2.6 8.0 18.1 .440 2.6 6.9 .375 8.8 10.2 .868
Cedric Maxwell 79 28.5 11.9 2.3 3.0 5.3 2.4 0.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 4.2 8.4 .499 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 4.4 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 37.4 27.2 0.7 5.0 5.7 7.5 1.6 0.4 4.5 2.9 7.6 17.3 .439 2.4 6.3 .383 9.6 10.5 .916
Cedric Maxwell 7 35.1 12.9 3.3 4.0 7.3 3.3 0.6 0.6 2.7 2.6 4.1 7.9 .527 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 5.4 .842

Season 7

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2015-161983-84
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 82 38.1 29.0 0.8 5.3 6.1 7.5 1.7 0.6 4.6 2.8 8.7 19.7 .439 2.9 8.0 .359 8.8 10.2 .860
Cedric Maxwell 80 31.3 11.9 2.5 3.3 5.8 2.6 0.8 0.3 2.5 2.8 4.0 7.5 .532 0.0 0.1 .167 4.0 5.3 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 5 38.6 26.6 1.4 3.8 5.2 7.6 2.4 0.2 5.2 2.6 8.2 20.0 .410 2.6 8.4 .310 7.6 9.0 .844
Cedric Maxwell 23 32.7 11.9 2.3 2.9 5.2 2.4 1.0 0.3 2.0 3.3 3.7 7.3 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 4.6 5.9 .779

Season 8

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2016-171984-85
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 81 36.4 29.1 1.2 7.0 8.1 11.2 1.5 0.5 5.7 2.7 8.3 18.9 .440 3.2 9.3 .347 9.2 10.9 .847
Cedric Maxwell 57 26.2 11.1 1.7 2.5 4.2 1.8 0.6 0.3 1.7 2.5 3.5 6.6 .533 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 4.9 .831
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 37.0 28.5 0.6 4.8 5.5 8.5 1.9 0.5 5.4 3.9 8.2 19.8 .413 2.9 10.5 .278 9.2 10.5 .878
Cedric Maxwell 20 11.9 3.8 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.5 1.1 2.2 .488 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.2 .791

Season 9

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2017-181985-86
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 72 35.4 30.4 0.6 4.8 5.4 8.8 1.8 0.7 4.4 2.3 9.0 20.1 .449 3.7 10.0 .367 8.7 10.1 .858
Cedric Maxwell 76 32.3 14.1 3.2 5.0 8.2 2.8 0.8 0.4 2.7 3.3 4.1 8.7 .475 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 7.4 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 36.5 28.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.8 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.7 9.3 22.6 .410 3.1 10.2 .299 6.9 7.8 .887
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 10

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2018-191986-87
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 78 36.8 36.1 0.8 5.8 6.6 7.5 2.0 0.7 5.0 3.1 10.8 24.5 .442 4.8 13.2 .368 9.7 11.0 .879
Cedric Maxwell 81 24.3 10.0 2.2 3.2 5.4 2.4 0.5 0.2 1.7 2.2 3.1 5.9 .530 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 4.8 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 38.5 31.6 0.8 6.0 6.8 6.6 2.2 0.9 4.6 3.7 9.9 24.0 .413 4.4 12.5 .350 7.5 8.9 .837
Cedric Maxwell 10 17.7 6.2 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.7 0.4 0.0 0.8 1.7 1.8 3.4 .529 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.5 .743

Season 11

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2019-201987-88
Team Houston RocketsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 68 36.5 34.3 1.0 5.5 6.6 7.5 1.8 0.9 4.5 3.3 9.9 22.3 .444 4.4 12.4 .355 10.2 11.8 .865
Cedric Maxwell 71 11.9 3.8 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.8 1.1 1.1 2.4 .468 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.0 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 12 37.3 29.6 1.0 4.6 5.6 7.7 1.5 0.8 3.8 3.6 9.1 19.0 .478 3.3 9.8 .333 8.2 9.7 .845
Cedric Maxwell 4 3.8 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2020-21-
Team Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 44 36.6 24.6 0.8 7.1 7.9 10.8 1.2 0.8 4.0 2.3 7.8 16.7 .466 2.8 7.6 .362 6.3 7.3 .861
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 9 35.8 20.2 0.8 5.6 6.3 8.6 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.6 5.7 12.0 .472 2.7 7.3 .364 6.2 6.9 .903
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 13

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2021-22-
Team Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 65 37.2 22.0 0.8 6.8 7.7 10.3 1.3 0.6 4.4 2.4 6.3 15.3 .410 2.3 6.9 .330 7.2 8.2 .877
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 12 39.9 18.6 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.6 0.8 0.7 4.2 2.4 5.3 13.2 .405 2.3 6.3 .368 5.6 6.3 .893
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 14

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2022-23-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Assists Leader-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 58 36.8 21.0 0.7 5.4 6.1 10.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 1.9 6.4 14.5 .441 2.8 7.2 .385 5.4 6.2 .867
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 38.8 20.3 0.5 5.6 6.2 8.3 1.8 0.4 3.2 2.5 6.5 16.6 .393 2.8 7.5 .378 4.4 5.0 .873
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

James Harden Cedric Maxwell
Season 2023-24-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 72 34.3 16.6 0.5 4.7 5.1 8.5 1.1 0.8 2.6 1.8 4.9 11.4 .428 2.6 6.8 .381 4.2 4.8 .878
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 40.3 21.2 0.5 4.0 4.5 8.0 1.0 1.0 2.3 2.2 6.7 14.8 .449 3.0 7.8 .383 4.8 5.3 .906
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------